WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Future State: Teen Titans #2 by Tim Sheridan, Raga Sandoval, Julio Gerreira, Alejandro Sanchez & Rob Leigh, on sale now
The Future State era has pushed many of DC's greatest heroes to their absolute limit, with some even being killed in shocking ways during the event. But now, a host of lost heroes got the chance to -- even briefly -- make one last stand against the forces of evil.
While fighting the mysterious demonic force that was unleashed alongside the Four Riders of the Apocalypse, Red X utilized the H-Dial to its full potential and summoned the spirits of the fallen Teen Titans for one more heroic charge in Future State: Teen Titans #2.
The fight against the Four Riders in the Future State era has been a difficult one for the heroes of the DC Universe. The corruption of Wally West into one of the Horsemen has led to the defeat and death of almost every notable speedster, with Barry Allen even being forced outside of time. The remaining titans -- Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Cybeast, Shazam, Crush, Bunker, Red Arrow, and Red X -- lead one last desperate charge against them in hopes of stalling long enough for Raven to contain them. The group is quickly overwhelmed, with the corrupted Wally even murdering Red Arrow right in front of her allies. To give Raven more time, Red X reveals the true reason he and Nightwing had needed the H-Dial.
Remembering years earlier when the young Titans spent a Halloween trying to modify the H-Dial to summon the dead, Red X is able to dial in "Titans" -- summoning the spirits of every fallen Titan. The group of undead Titans includes everyone from the just-killed Red Arrow to Wally West, Donna Troy, Roundhouse and even more obscure heroes like Pantha. United by the H-Dial, the spirits of the fallen Titans quickly fight the demonic beast summoned by the Horsemen. They even keep it busy enough for Raven to complete her part of the plan and contain the darkness within herself, allowing Shazam to take her to the Rock of Eternity to contain her and the darkness present. It doesn't come without a cost, however, as Red X is seemingly killed in the ensuing chaos and it's unlikely the Titans will ever see Raven again.
The H-Dial is quietly one of the most powerful items in the DC Universe. Capable of transforming the user into a super-powered form, the H-Dial can even be used to try and overtake all of reality. If the Titans are able to modify the H-Dial to their specifications, that also opens up a lot of other possibilities for future use -- if it survived the final battle to determine the fate of the world. It also gave the Teen Titans one last chance to be fully united, allowing the team to save the world one last time. It also invites new questions -- such as the presence of Dove among the spirits of the dead Titans, when she's also been teased as one of the champions of the corrupted Raven from the distant future -- then known as the Unkindness.
But at least in the age of Future State, the full extent of the H-Dial's power has been revealed, and the force that almost destroyed the world has been contained. Now, it'll be on the surviving heroes to help rebuild the world and carry on the legacy that their friends gave their lives -- and even their afterlives -- to defend.